Karnataka Floor Test Updates: Sixteen legislators - 13 from the Congress and three from JDS - have resigned in the last two weeks, while two independent legislators have withdrawn their support to the coalition government.

Karnataka trust vote: HD Kumaraswamy moved the confidence motion in the state assembly.

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala today wrote to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, asking him to prove majority of the his government by 1:30 pm tomorrow.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had moved the confidence motion in the state Assembly with the 14-month old Congress-JDS government headed by him hanging by a thread after a rebellion by a section of ruling coalition lawmakers. With the numbers stacked against the ruling coalition, Kumaraswamy moved a one-line motion, saying that the House expresses confidence in the ministry headed by him.

Sixteen legislators - 13 from the Congress and three from JDS - have resigned in the last two weeks, while two independent legislators have withdrawn their support to the coalition government. The resignations, if accepted, will bring down the ruling coalition's strength in the 225-member assembly to 100 from 118.

Ahead of the trust vote, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa had expressed confidence that the motion would be defeated. "I don't know what their party (coalition partners Congress and JD-S) is going to do but we are 105. They will be less than 100. Hundred per cent we are confident that the confidence motion will be defeated," Mr Yeddyurappa told reporters at the Vidhana Soudha, which houses both the houses of Legislature.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court left it to the Speaker to decide on the resignations of the rebel lawmakers. At the same time, the court said they cannot be forced to attend the assembly, which blunts the threat of disqualification. Karnataka assembly speaker K R Ramesh Kumar welcomed the Supreme Court decision, saying he would conduct himself responsibly as per the principles of the constitution but did not mention by when he would decide on the resignations.

Here are the LIVE Updates on Karnataka floor test:

Jul 18, 2019

21:50 (IST)

BJP lawmaker Prabhu Chavan arrives at Vidhana Soudha with a bed sheet and pillow. BJP legislators are on an overnight 'dharna' at the Assembly, demanding trust vote.

Karnataka Ministers MB Patil and DK Shivakumar in conversation talk to BJP lawmakers, including state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa at Karnataka assembly after they said they would sit on an over night 'dharna' in the house demanding consideration of floor test today

(ANI)

Jul 18, 2019

19:01 (IST)

BJP Lawmakers Inside Karnataka Assembly After House Was Adjourned For The Day

There was hospital right next to resort where our MLAs are staying, then why was Shrimant Patil flown to Chennai and then to Mumbai for treatment? He is healthy, nothing is wrong with him. It's a conspiracy by BJP.

Jul 18, 2019

15:26 (IST)

A BJP delegation is going meet the Karnataka Governor to get the trust vote done today.

Till we get clarification on Supreme Court's previous order, it is not appropriate to take floor test in this session which is against the Constitution.

If we go ahead with the confidence motion, if the whip applicable and they (rebel MLAs) don't come to the House because of the Supreme Court order, it will be a big loss to the coalition government.

Jul 18, 2019

13:29 (IST)

DK Shivakumar, Congress in Karnataka Assembly: Being a former Chief Minister, being the leader of opposition, he (BS Yeddyurappa) is misguiding the nation, misguiding the court. pic.twitter.com/RYtFkWcaLM

Karnataka floor test: As soon as the motion was moved, BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa stood up and said the trust vote process should be completed in a single day. "The Leader of Opposition seems to be in a hurry,"

Kumaraswamy taunted Yeddyurappa.

BJP is reportedly apprehensive that the ruling coalition might try to get the debate prolonged as much as possible to buy time in its last ditch effort to shore up numbers before the voting is taken up.

Jul 18, 2019

12:36 (IST)

#Mumbai: Karnataka Congress MLA Shrimant Patil who was staying with other Congress MLAs at Windflower Prakruthi Resort in Bengaluru, reached Mumbai last night, currently admitted to a hospital in Mumbai after he complained of chest pain. pic.twitter.com/wojgD6R443

Karnataka trust vote: N Mahesh, BSP MLA is not present in the House during trust motion, news agency ANI reported.

Jul 18, 2019

11:33 (IST)

"I haven't come just because there is a question on whether I can run a coalition government or not. Events have shown that even the role of the Speaker has been put under jeopardy by some legislators," Mr kumaraswamy told the House.

"We are confident of facing and winning the floor test, as our leaders have been trying their best to get as many of the 13 legislators who resigned from the Assembly. With Reddy agreeing to withdraw, we hope more will follow," Congress spokesman Ravi Gowda was quoted by IANS as saying.

Jul 18, 2019

10:32 (IST)

DK Shivakumar, Karnataka Congress troubleshooter, has maintained that the party can take action against the legislators for violating orders but made a "sincere personal request" to reconsider their resignations.

Jul 18, 2019

10:20 (IST)

BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru: We are 101 per cent confident. They are less than 100, we are 105. There is no doubt that their motion will be defeated. pic.twitter.com/JdutzxPbaC

HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday issued whip to all 37 MLAs of JD(S) including three rebel legislators Narayana Gowda, Gopalaiah and H Vishwanath to be present in the Assembly at the time of trust vote.

Mr Kumaraswamy has warned that if MLAs do not attend the House and vote against the party whip even after attending the session on the day of trust voting, action will be initiated under the rule of Anti-Defection Law and that MLA will be disqualified from his post.

Jul 18, 2019

10:15 (IST)

The ruling coalition's strength in the 225-member assembly is 118. With the support of the two independents, the opposition BJP has 107 legislators.

Jul 18, 2019

10:15 (IST)

Sixteen legislators - 13 from the Congress and three from JDS - have resigned in the last two weeks, while two independent legislators have withdrawn their support to the coalition government.

Jul 18, 2019

10:15 (IST)

Weeks of political uncertainty in Karnataka may come to a head today, with the Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition government facing a trust vote after the resignation of 16 legislators and two independents pulling their support earlier this month. The debate ahead of the floor test starts at 11 am.